The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-02-24
HAULING IN THE NET.
A Memorable Day at the Brook
lyn Tabernacle.
Over Three Hundred New Members Re-
ceived by Rev. Dr. T. De witt Tai
mage-An Impressive Sermon by
the Eminent Divine.

ceived by Rev. Dr. T. De witt Tai
mage-An Impressive Sermon by
the Eminent Divine.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Jan. 23..Over three
hundred new members were received at the
Brooklyn Tabernacle to-day In COM
nemoration of this event, DR.. Talmage
preached the following sermon, choosing
for his text the eighth verse Of the six
tieth chapter Of Isaiah: "Who are these
that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to
their windows2' He said:
When God would set fast a beautiful
thought, he plants it in tree; when He
would put it af1oat, He fashions it into a
fish; when He would have it glide through
the air, He molds it into bird. There is
to many Of US complete fascination in
the structure and habits Of birds-the
blackbird, floating like fake Of darkness
through the sunlight. the meadow lark,
with head of fawn and throat Of velvet,
and breast of gold; the red famingo,
flying over the Southern swamps, like
sparks from the forge Of the setting sun;
the pelican, white and black, morning and
night, tangled in its wings-they seem not
more OF earth than Heaven, ever yacillat-
ing between the two.
No wonder that Audubon, with his gun,
tramped through all the American forests
in search Of new specimens. Biologists
have spent years in finding the track
OF birds claws in the new red sandstone.
There is enough Of Gods architecture in a
snipe's bill OF grouse's foot to confound all
the universities. Musicians have, with
clefs and bars, tried to catch the sound of
the nightingale and the robin. Among the
first things that child notices is a swal-
low at the caves, and grandfather goes out
with handful of crumbs to feed the snow
birds. The Bible is full of pathological
illusions. iEs
The birds Of the Bible are not dead and
stuffed, like those of the museum, but liv-
ing birds, with f1uttering wings and plum
age. behold the fowls of the air.
says Christ. Though thou exalt myself
as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest
among the stars, thence will bring thee
down." exclaims Obadiah. "Gavest thou
the goodly wings to the peacocka" says
Job. David describes his desolation by
saying: 81 am like pelican of the wilder
ness; am like an owl Of the desert;
watch, and am as sparrow on the house.
top.n ssYea, the stork in the heaven
knoweth her appointed time; and the
WI eAo oA0 tuO CIduS duU GQ0 swallow
observe the time Of their coming: but
my people know not the judgment Of the
Lord" says Jeremiah. And in the text
Isaiah looks ahead and sees the gathering
OF many people unto Christ and the Church,
and it makes him think of a flock of pigeons
alighting on their coop, and all at once try
ing to get in at the window Of the coop, and
he cries out: "Who are those that fly as
n10n5 md 90 ho TO
dowsa"
This is one OF. the memorable days of the
Brooklyn Tabernacle. On other SUNDAYS
we drop the net; to-day we haul it in On
other days we send out the invitations for
Kings party; to-day we SIT at the
banquet. On other days we fight the bat
tie; now we claim victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ. Ye who have toiled
and contributed and prayed for the success
OF this institution take unto your souls the
grand satisfaction OF this hour. To you. o.
men and women, is fulfilled the promise
Those who SOW in tears shall reap in low
Wake up, o, Church of God and bring
garlands and music and let US celebrate our
harvest home.''
Oh, this mercy of Godi am told it is an
ocean. Then l place on it four swift-sail-
- SAoA eos WAon COlupdSS anu charts ana
choice rigging and skillful navigators. and
tell them to launch away and discover for
me the extent Of this ocean. That craft
puts out in one direction, and sails to the
north; this to the east; this to the south.
this to the west. They crowd on all their
canvas and sail ten thousand years, and one
day came up the harbor of Heaven. and a
shout to them from the beach: "Haye Won
fOl1nd the QhQrQ2r An fhary
shore to Gods mercyl' Swift angels. dis
patched from the throne, attempt to 90
across it; for one million years thew fly and
fly, but then come back and fold their
wings at the foot of the the throne. and
cry: mo shore no shore to Gods ercvl,
Mercy Mercy sing it; preach it; I
pray IT. Here l find man bound hand
and foot to the devil, but with one stroke
OF the hammer of Gods truth the chains
Iail on and he Is free forever. Mercy
mercy! Mercyl There is no depth it can
not 1atholn; there is no height it can not
scale; there Is no infinity it can not COM
pass.
When persons apply for membership in
10 any society, the question is asked:
VINO are they, and where do they come
fromt" and as this multitude of people pre-
0~AAe sAASAAASSAfCo to-udy loE membership 1T
IS right that we should ask: SWho are
these that come as doves to their win
dowsa" They are captives, whose chains
have been broken; they are soldiers. who
have enlisted for thirty years. war; they
are heirs Of Heaven.
They come as doves to the windows.
nrst, because they fly low The eagle darts
up, as If to strike its beak into the sun
There are birds that seem to dwell under
the caves Of heaven; you see them as lit
tie specks against the sky, SO far of that
you can otguess the style Of their plumape
or the shape of their bodies; they float so
Tar away that If the hunters gun be dis
charged at them they do not change their
course. Not 80 with the doves or pigeons.
they never take any high excursions. Thew
ny around your roof and alight on the
fence, and seem to dislike great attitudes.
So these souls who come to Christ and tn
dis church to-day fly low. They ask no
great things; they seek an humble place at
the feet OF Christ; they are not ashamed
70 oe called beggars for mercy; thew are
willing to get down on their knees, and to
crawl under the table, and to pick nm the
crumbs of the Gospel provision. There
were days when they were proud and
punctilious and memorable and puffed mn.
but not now. The highest throne on earth
could not tempt Mary away from Jesus,
Fa0t Stonn vo,.d1vxo5